Coleman-led group launches $1.2M push for health reform repeal

Blog Post by:

July 10, 2012 - 7:38 AM

The American Action Network, the advocacy group co-founded by former Minnesota U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, is funding a $1.2 million campaign to urge Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the federal health care reform law.

American Action's campaign attacks the law in Congressional districts where Republicans face tough re-election races key to maintaining their majority in the U.S. House, including Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District, represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack.

"[Cravaack's] a key member in the fight to repeal Obamacare," said American Action spokesman Dan Conston.

On Wednesday, House Republicans intend to force a vote on a repeal of President Barack Obama's health care law, which the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld in a ruling that said the law imposes a tax on anyone who doesn't buy insurance. The vote will make good on a promise by Republican leaders to try and repeal the law.

Beginning today, residents in Cravaack's district will receive direct mail, robo-calls and see print advertising as part of a campaign covering 35 Congressional districts across the country, stretching from California to New Hampshire.

Wisconsin Republican U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy's district is also part of American Action's effort.

During the 2010 election cycle, American Action spent more than $25 million campaigning against Democrats and has already paid for other print advertisements and mailings for Cravaack and other vulnerable House Republicans this election cycle.

One of the key outside funding forces on the political right, American Action is one of several organizations rallying around the repeal vote. The conservative Americans for Prosperity advocacy group, founded by billionaire businessman and political activist David Koch, will run a $9 million television campaign this week.